Tom, I want to thank you for sharing these deep words of wisdom. And Mike, I want to thank you for posting this chart and bringing my attention to it. This chart has inspired me to really start keeping a serious log examining my intents and beliefs and wants and actions.

I've spent my life thinking that change can come from outside of myself: reading books, changing habits. But real change actually only comes from honest introspection. Brutally honest introspection.

We experience so much pain, hurt, and confusion in life and we don't know how to deal with it! So we pick up these bad habits that temporarily soothe the pain, but when we really look at the habit for what it is, we see that it's not coming from a loving intent, love for ourselves or for others, but it's just some defense mechanism to get us over a hump, so we don't have to directly deal with the pains. But this can only be fixed by drilling into the mind to confront the fears that drive these maladaptive behaviors.

We also are held captive by so many rotten beliefs! I made a snide remark to my wife this morning about her hairy legs. I do not care if her legs are hairy! It is this rotten belief system that women must have shaved legs to please their men that made me say that. Luckily she dismissed me, but I have no right to make these controlling statements. And the only way to change that is if I look at why I feel the need to control, what am I afraid of? This is a tough question, and it comes from a small incident, but it by examining little incidents like this that change begins.

"This process takes focus, dedication to succeeding, and perseverance" and it also takes brutal honesty and self-forgiveness.

Thanks again Tom & Mike for taking the time to share this, and for inspiring me.

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Everything is simpler than we can imagine, at the same time more complex and intertwined than can be comprehended--Goethe, Maxims & Reflections

Bette,

This became lost in the shuffle. If you will go to the MBT Index link page here: http://wiki.my-big-toe.com/index.php/Index_Link_Page Then click on the page for S entries, you will find four pages listed for "science, as religion". This should be just what you were looking for.

It might be worth while to page through all of the Index pages and see just what is referenced there. There is entirely too much to remember it all. A good place to go first when you are looking for something that Tom has written about.

Ted

Hi Ted,

Thank you, as always. I was at the Wiki the other day and hit the "random page" option and it brought of a page I think is called "The evolution of god" I think. I recommend hitting the "random page" option daily.
Love
Bette

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All That Is
what is?
Consciousness.

Thank you for sharing the diagram. It's very easy to follow :)

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I am change. No part of me stagnates - this is an illusion.